Official Review: Big Bootie Mix, Volume 17
The latest mix from Two Friends is 100% Quarantine Approved
With America staying home, the 17th installment of Big Bootie Mix could not have dropped at a more needed time.
Once again, Two Friends manage to distill an impressively curated catalogue of musical genres and eras into an adrenaline-filled hour of pure ear candy — sprinkling in a fresh batch of memes and cultural Easter eggs along the way.
While anchored by more recent music (56 of the over 200 songs sampled are from 2019 or later), this volume’s texture comes from its deep lineup of throwback jams. In fact, the average release year of sampled songs on BBM17 is 2010. Not to age myself too much, but tracks like Sugar Ray’s “Every Morning” and DJ Sammy’s “Heaven” hit the exact right notes on the nostalgia-meter.
Without further ado, turn your headphones up and let’s dive into this mix.
NOTE: Unless otherwise stated, all time stamps correspond to the Official Two Friends YouTube video. Full track list can be found HERE.
Act I: Sorting Through the Rubble | (Open to 19:24)
Curtains open to the unmistakable haunting piano strokes of My Chemical Romance’s “Welcome to the Black Parade.” Gone are Willy Wonka’s whimsical invitations to a world of pure imagination that set the stage in BBM16. These are dark times, quite literally. Are our two grand marshals ready to “be the savior of the broken, the beaten, and the damned?”
Salvation in Act I is delivered through an early procession of equally angsty emo ballads. We cycle through Panic! At the Disco. Green Day. Death Cab for Cutie. Blink-182. And of course, a standout mash-up of the original grunge anthem, Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” overlaid with “Clarity” by Zedd — and that’s all in just the first ten minutes.
At minute ten, we encounter a forceful shift into the more recent past. And what better way to signal a detour than with some Dubstep? Young Jeezy’s “Put On” x “Cracks” (Flux Pavilion Remix) is the combo I never knew I needed — and on its own, merits consideration for the hardest hitting stretch of the entire mix. Little do we know, it’s merely appetizer for the real gem of the opening segment.
In this humble reviewer’s opinion, there’s no such thing as too much Kanye. Even so, deploying peak My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Kanye in a mashup should not be tried at home, especially when it comes to “Runaway,” the emotional core of his masterpiece album. Using that track is like shaving ounces of black truffle all over a dinner entrée. Fortunately, these DJ’s are more than qualified to handle the delicacy, layering it flawlessly on top of “Takeaway” by the Chainsmokers & ILLENIUM, serving up a savory risotto of Michelin star musical goodness that devours the full duration of Ye’s iconic chorus.
We have a toast for the a**holes and throw back a refreshing blend of ZAYN & Zhavia Ward’s “A Whole New World” remake alongside Elton John’s 1972 vintage, “Rocket Man.” For dessert, a scoop of “Come Clean” by Hilary Duff is found in the back of the freezer, paired with some Post Malone “Circles”-brand espresso. Yeezy protégé Kid Cudi makes his first appearance on the mix with 2009 hit “Soundtrack 2 My Life,” bringing a turbulent Act I to a close.
Act II: Hope on the Horizon | (19:25 to 42:26)
The second and longest Act finds Two Friends in more familiar territory, embracing a live for the moment attitude amidst the chaos and confusion. Homages to alternative rock now yield way to defiant party sing-alongs: “Young, Wild, and Free” (Wiz Khalifa), “We R Who We R” (Ke$ha), “Doses and Mimosas” (Cherub), to name a few. In short, we have made our way into Camp Superdope.
The pent up urge to rage that has been building in the background finally bubbles over — in a CDC approved socially distanced environment, of course. You’ll be tempted to pop bottles and convert your living room into personal night club starting at the 23:48 mark. “Lose Control” (Meduza ft. Becky Hill & Goodboys) makes its first of two trance-inducing appearances, transitioning directly into a Justin Timberlake/Red Hot Chili Peppers “Mirrors”/“Under the Bridge” highlight reel combo. And we crescendo with Soulja Boy’s prescient jam, “Kiss Me Thru the Phone.” If Soulja’s agent hasn’t already produced a “Kiss Me Thru the Zoom” reboot, Soulja needs better representation.
This no regrets sentiment is punctuated with a cameo by the now infamous 2020 Florida spring break bro, the very embodiment of youthful ignorance and perceived invincibility. “If I get Corona, I get Corona,” he tells us in the second and final virus-related soundbite of the mix (29:54).
Like all great parties, there’s a VIP-only guest list at this venue. Whereas the Official YouTube music video (which is amazing, btw) clocks in just short of an hour, A list listeners get backstage access to an exclusive track. Specifically, at the 35:53 mark on SoundCloud, we discover three hidden minutes with a lyrical medley of “My Boo” by Usher ft. Alicia Keys, “Habits (Stay High)” by Tove Lo, and “Fuckin’ Problems” by A$AP Rocky.
For a while, we lose ourselves in this sweet escape, living out a dream we don’t want to wake up from. “This life is a party, I’m never growing up!” Chiddy Bang insist. But morning is fast approaching and nothing gold can stay.
Act 3: Resolution, Together | (42:27 to End)
“You can’t be old and wise if you were never young and crazy.”
— Every SEC sorority rush video, probably
Having survived the initial shock of this brave new world in Act I and attempting to party past the pain in Act II, we now must gather the strength to endure for the long haul. Our Sherpa Kanye West re-emerges to make clear where he stands on the matter: “Na-na-na that that don’t kill me/can only make me stronger,” as Slash shreds “Sweet Child O’ Mine” in the background.
My Official **DAMN SON! WHERE’D YOU FIND THIS??** Favorite Two Minutes of the mix commences at 46:44. I hesitate to even write about it for fear of tarnishing its beauty. Go listen right now on full blast. The aforementioned DJ Sammy gently opens with “Heaven” in Acapella. We then get “No Hands” (Waka Flocka Flame ft. Wale & Roscoe Dash) dropping into “Lose Control” part deux. To close, a parlay of Taio Cruz’s “Break Your Heart” with the Full House theme song! What a rush. Uncle Jesse approves this message.
As has recently become tradition, Two Friends give us a sneak peek into their yet-to-be-released new single at 49:20 — presumed working title, “Lookin’ at You.” Likewise, “Good for You” made its premier at the end of BBM16, a fun prize at the bottom of the proverbial cereal box for those of us who have made it this deep into the journey with our wits about us.
Moments later, we come to the final soundbite of the mix — and boy, it’s a tear jerker. “What can I say? Mamba out” (50:32). Everyone I know audibly said “aww” their first listen through this part. A subtle, surprisingly moving tribute. RIP.
With Act III winding down, John Lennon reminds us that “All You Need is Love.” Finally, we reach the answer we’ve been searching for. What matters through this all, how we persevere, is with each other. Appropriately, the mix closes with the first extended thematic riff I can recall in the BBM series. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” (Randy Newman), “Lean on Me” (Bill Withers — also RIP), “You’re My Best Friend” (Queen), and more all serve to put the “Friend” in Two Friends.
End scene.
Best Pre-Drop Soundbite
“I am never gonna financially recover from this”
–Joe Exotic (4:25)
Tiger King, the cultural hit of the quarantine, was sure to make an appearance somewhere in this mix. I thought perhaps we might have heard Carol Baskin’s trademark “Hey all you cool cats and kittens,” but this pull from the unquestioned star of the series proved far more satisfying. Elevating it in the coveted first slot really set the tone for the rest of the mix. Hopefully Joe is able to stream music from prison.
Honorable Mentions
“daMN BOI HE THICC!” –Author Unknown (15:34)
“Somebody suck me!” –Lil Dicky (23:15)
Verdict
BBM17 continues a trend of the odd numbered volumes slapping especially hard. Personally, this one is right on the verge of cracking my all-time top three (11, 15, and 13 currently hold those positions). As with a fine wine, I’ve found it gets better with each listen. The true test will be turning it on at that first big party when we can all congregate together again. Hopefully that day comes sooner rather than later. Until then, this mix can more than hold its own for all your virtual happy hour needs.
Stay well, my friends.
Rating: 9.6/10
I’m still waiting for Big Bootie Mix: Christmas Edition. Until then, let me know what songs and soundbites you want to hear in Volume 18.
